Grant Proposal – Analyzing the Effects of Blue Light as Contribution to Age-Related

Macular Degeneration on Humans

By Emily Brown

a) Significance

Globally, age-related macular degeneration is one of the primary causes of vision loss in all

populations as the macula becomes highly damaged, which is greatly responsible for clarity of

vision within humans (Mayo Clinic, 2022). Continentally, as of 2019, 12.6 % of Americans over

40 were diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (CDC, 2022). While macular

degeneration does not rid an individual of their entire eyesight, it makes daily tasks such as

cooking, reading, cleaning, identifying people, and many others much more challenging and

time-consuming. Currently, there is no cure for this detrimental disease (American Macular

Degeneration Foundation, 2022). This field applies greatly to the field of aging biology because

while there are many treatments currently being explored, none of these options have been able

to restore complete vision in the patient’s eyes.

Because the exact mechanism for the formation of macular degeneration is still unknown, there

is current speculation to what the exact causes are. The current known causes of this disease

include cardiovascular disease, obesity, smoking, age, and genetics (Mayo Clinic, 2022).

Additionally, research has shown that an overexposure of individuals to light, specifically blue

light, may be related to age-related macular degeneration based on the reactions that occur in the

eye when our eyes are chronically exposed to blue light (Wong & Bahami, 2022). Because there

is a lack of knowledge to a quantifiable amount of how much blue light causes reactive oxygen

species to accumulate, and additionally, if there are treatments that could potentially restore full

vision in macular degeneration patients, this avenue of research deserves to be explored.

many are concerned for the amount of blue light that we are constantly exposed to on a daily

basis. Based on a survey previously conducted, doctors claim that dry eyes, tired/sore eyes,

headaches, and reduced productivity and concentration are symptoms of blue light exposure and

unrestricted screen time (Eyesafe, 2023). Currently, the average screen time for Americans is 7

hours and 4 minutes per day (Howarth, 2023). Technology is not going away anytime soon, but

if we could become more aware of the harms that blue light could impose upon us, we may be

more inclined to practice more moderation in our screen time as a population.

b) Innovation

While studies have confirmed that blue light is harmful to the retina, no studies have observed

the effects of blue light on a live human retina over a period of time (Lee et al., 2014). One study

that supported this harm measured the effects of blue light on A2E concentration and oxidation

within Sprague-Dawley albino rats. Specifically accumulating with age, A2E is a form of blue

light that acts to absorb retinal chromophore. While the experimental group of rats that were

exposed to blue light for 6 hours did not result in a significant change in the retina’s composition

of fatty acid, it did increase the amount of oxidized A2E compared to the control group. These

findings are significant because the development of A2E oxides is associated with the

phototoxicity that blue light can induce. While this is a starting point for bridging the link

between blue light and macular degeneration, more research needs to be done in regard to

humans for more applicable data to be produced (Wielgus et al., 2011).

Additionally, human corneal epithelial cells have been observed under blue light, and the results

are promising. In this study, cell viability was measured by irradiation of human corneal

epithelial cells through light-emitting diodes of wavelengths 410-830 nm. Additionally, the
formation of reactive oxygen species was also measured. Results showed that when blue light

was irradiated, corneal epithelial cell viability was greatly reduced at 410 nm and 480 nm.

Additionally, the production of reactive oxygen species did occur at wavelengths of 410 nm and

480 nm with doses of 5 J/cm ^2. However, this was not the only significant finding found; the

use of ethyl alcohol extracts on the corneal epithelial cells post-blue light exposure was able to

reduce the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) depending on the dose injected (Lee et

al.).

c) Approach

The purpose of this study is to provide a quantifiable number to describe the amount and time of

blue light exposure that produces enough damage to the retina to cause symptoms that can

increase an individual’s risk of forming age-related macular degeneration. The need for

corrective lenses, dry eyes, and irritated eyes can be raise an individual’s chance of forming

macular degeneration at some point within their lifetime. Because blue light is currently a part of

our everyday life, we would be imposing no injections or additional stress on the individuals we

choose to test. Our goal is that the results we formulate can allow us to have a better idea of how

moderate or detrimental blue light can have on potentially contracting age-related macular

degeneration, or in other words aging the eye.

Aim 1. Produce a quantifiable number for the amount of blue light that could increase a

person’s risk in forming macular degeneration.

This project will observe a group of 1000 individuals over the age of 40 who work a computer

support/IT job every weekday from 9-5 who do not currently have macular degeneration, but are

genetically predisposed to it in some form (i.e. one of their grandparents have it, aunt, uncle, a

parent, etc.), and 1000 individuals who do not work jobs utilizing computers such as construction
workers, gardeners, and farm managers. These individuals would all need to reside in Baton

Rouge, Louisiana to ensure that they would be subject to a similar amount of UV light daily

before and after work. These individuals will be broken into 4 groups: 1) IT workers from the

age of 40-47 who have been working at an IT job for approximately 15-20 years, 2) workers

from the age of 47-54 who have been working at an IT job for approximately 20-25 years, 3)

workers from the age of 54 to 60 who have been working at an IT job for approximately 25-30

years, and 4) a control group testing workers whose job minimally involves the use of

computers, ages 40-60. Both the experimental and control group will each have access to a

two-week vacation in Denver, Colorado during this 6-month study. Every week throughout the

experiment, the following procedure will be undergone. Individuals will be tested at the Ochsner

Vision Center for their macula to be examined through fluorescein angiography and optical

coherence tomography tests (Mayo Clinic, 2022). Three primary categories will be measured: the

amount of lipofuscin (an accumulated waste product within the retina), oxidized forms of A2E,

and the overall health of the macula (Shapiro, 2016). Additionally, participants would fill out a

survey daily at 6:00 PM of how their eye felt that day, rating categories on a scale of 1-10. The

categories will be blurred vision, paled color vision, dry eyes, wet eyes, discomfort, and wavy

lines in their vision. Based on their rankings, participants will be ranked in order of those with

the most severe symptoms to the ones with the least severe symptoms. My current hypothesis is

that workers from 54-60 are more likely to have more severe symptoms of all the symptoms

listed above as they have most likely been the most chronically exposed to blue light. Elevated

levels of eye discomfort, dry eyes, wet eyes, etc. throughout this study can directly support the

claim that chronic exposure to blue light can be damaging to the retina and increase an
individual’s risk of forming macular degeneration (American Macular Degeneration Foundation,

2022).

Aim 2. Compare treatments such as blue light eyeglasses, antioxidants, and medicinal

plants in their ability to reduce irritating eye symptoms such as blurred vision, wavy lines,

pale color vision, dry eyes, wet eyes, and discomfort.

There are many studies that have attempted to rectify the stress induced by blue light. One

promising study showcased how eyeglasses that worked to block blue light actually decreased

symptoms of eye fatigue in individuals (Lin et al. 1) Furthermore, an EUREYE study showed a

significant correlation between lifetime blue light exposure and reported individuals with

age-related macular degermation who had low antioxidant levels (Shapiro, 2016). Additionally,

one study discussed earlier observed the potential radical scavenging of ethyl alcohol extracts

that were utilized from mixtures of medicinal plants such as Cassia tora L., (Lee et al., 2014).

Results showed that blue light decreased as the dose of these extracts increased as injections in

human coronal epithelial cells (Lee et al., 2014). Using these studies as influence, the

experimental design shall be as follows. There will be three experimental groups, and one control

group. The first experimental group will wear the same brand of blue light glasses daily for a

period of six months, the second experimental group will have a high daily dietary intake of

antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin for a period of six months, and the third experimental group

will have daily tea made from the Cassia tora seed for a period of six months (National Eye

Institute, 2020). The control group will strictly be observed. All participants within this study

must have age-related macular degeneration, be 60-65 years old, and have no major health

concerns besides age-related macular degeneration. The goal of this study is to see which

potential treatment is most effective in reducing the symptoms of macular degeneration such as
blurred vision, wavy lines where straight lines are supposed to appear, such as a door, paled color

vision, dry eyes, wet eyes, and discomfort. As a continuation of aim 1, participants will fill out a

daily study indicating if they have these symptoms. Eye-checks will also occur weekly at a near

optometry center. My hypothesis at this time is that the individuals who wear blue light glasses

daily will have the largest decrease in symptoms associated with macular degeneration. Our goal

is that conclusions will be able to defer which treatments could give a better quality of life to the

millions of patients currently suffering from macular degeneration.

symptoms, risks, Stargardt - AMDF. American Macular Degeneration Foundation.

Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://www.macular.org/about-macular-

degeneration

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, October 31). Prevalence estimates. Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from

https://www.cdc.gov/visionhealth/vehss/estimates/amd-prevalence.html

Howarth, J. (2023, January 13). Alarming average screen time statistics (2023). Exploding

Topics. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from

https://explodingtopics.com/blog/screen-time-stats

Lee, J.-B., Kim, S.-H., Lee, S.-C., Kim, H.-G., Ahn, H.-G., Li, Z., & Yoon, K. C. (2014, July).

Blue Light–Induced Oxidative Stress in Human Corneal Epithelial Cells: Protective

Effects of Ethanol Extracts of Various Medicinal Plant Mixtures. Iovs.arvojournals.org.

Retrieved March 27, 2023, from

https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2128327

Macular degeneration symptoms - know what to look for. American Macular Degeneration

Foundation. (2022, December 29). Retrieved March 27, 2023, from

https://www.macular.org/about-macular-degeneration/symptoms?gclid=Cj0KCQjw2v-gB

hC1ARIsAOQdKY3SRHKyoWAIAZz5NvqZ6OqYcnYACD_OVZfaCTCwPTPngYBt-b

eR2UQaAq0oEALw_wcB

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2022, November 23). Dry macular

degeneration. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-macular-degeneration/diagnosis-treat

ment/drc-20350381
Shapiro, A. (2016). Understanding Blue Light. Innovations in Retina. Retrieved March 27, 2023,

from https://amedeolucente.it/public/UNDERSTANDING%20Blue%20Ligth.pdf

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2020, November 19). Areds/Areds2 Clinical

Trials. National Eye Institute. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from

https://www.nei.nih.gov/research/clinical-trials/age-related-eye-disease-studies-aredsared

s2/about-areds-and-areds2

What is blue light from Digital Devices? is it harmful for eyes? Eyesafe. (2023, January 31).

Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://eyesafe.com/bluelight/

Wielgus, A. R., Collier, R. J., Martin, E., Lih, F. B., Tomer, K. B., Chignell, C. F., & Roberts, J.

E. (2011, December 10). Blue light induced A2E oxidation in rat eyes--experimental

animal model of Dry Amd. Photochemical & photobiological sciences : Official journal

of the European Photochemistry Association and the European Society for Photobiology.

Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20922251/

Wong, N. A., & Bahami, H. (2022, August 15). A review of the current state of research on

artificial blue light safety as it applies to digital devices. Science Direct. Retrieved March

27, 2023, from

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844022015705#bib34

https://eyesafe.com/bluelight/